Loose leaf binder



Feb. 7, 1933. N.' H. STUART LoosE LEAF BINDER Filed March 13, 1929 mmmmlwimmlwwM-Ulhnhuh lill'lukbur u" NNW Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PAT-ENF olv-Fics NIeHoLAs H. STUART, oF BUFFALO, NRW YORK, AssIeNoR rro REMINGTON RANnrNC.,

' 0F BUFFALO, NEW YoRR l r :LoosF LEAF BINDER Appncation'mea March 13, 1929. 'serial No. 346,592.

The invention relates totemporary binders and has particular relation to binders of the loose leaf type in which the cover members may be adjusted toward and awayV from one another in order to clamp stacks of pages of varying numbers therebetween or to permit ofthe quick removal of the pages therefrom or the insertion of additional pages therein.v

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a binder of the character described in which means are provided on-one of the cover members for adjusting the covers predetermined distances apart in order to accommodate pages arranged in a group of a certain thickness and in which the other cover member is provided with an auxiliary adjusting mechanism by means of which the covers may be clamped together various distances apart Within the range determined by the first mentioned adjustment, thus rendering it possible to accommodate a large number of pages and to securely bind the pages in position regrdless of the thickness of thegroup thereo Y 2 Another object of the inventiony is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for clamping a stack or group of pages between the covers of a binder and which embodies a single member operable withV one hand for both releasing the covers Yfrom clamped position and for moving them relative to each other in order to permit of the quick and easy insertion or removal of pagesV from the binder.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'a novel locking mechanism for a binder of the character described which is simple in construction and arrangement and kwhich may be assembled and disassembled with minimum of time and effort.V Other objects if the invention will appear from the following specification and appended claims. l j

In Ythe accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 isa plan view of a Vloose leaf binder with the covers thereof in an open position and with portions broken away to more clearly illustrate the improved adjusting andy locking mechanism. Y

Fig. 2 1s an enlarged sectional view of a portion of; theibinder; taken on line 2.-'2 of` Fig'. 1, the covers being in closed position.

1\Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan Y Y view of the improved locking mechanism..

Fig. 4 isa transverse sectional viewtaken one line 4-4 of Fig. 3. l j Y Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken.- on line 5 5 of Figure 1, but with the "locking means disengaged. V

Fig'. '6 is an enlarged detail showing the central portion of the anchor member inlperspective. s

Referring to the drawing, abinder constructed'in4 accordance with the present inventionl is shown as. comprising a pair`of cover members 1 and 2'each of which includes a rectangular frame 3 having sheet' metal plates 4 and 5 secured to the inner and outer sides thereof by Vrivets 6.V lChannel members 7 are secured tothe adjacent edges of the 7,0 cover members land 2 respectively and are formedl with ear portions 8 pivotally connected to coact with lmembers 9 provided'oneach of `a pair of clamping-.bars 10. These bars are provided,Withfaperturesll adaptedto l@ receive the ends of oppositely extending posts 12 which are carried bya pair of retaining barsj13. These bars. directly engage the opposite sides of va ,group of pages 14 and the posts 12 of each of these bars extend through SQ a series of registering perforationfs 15 formed in thepages. j f

y adjusting barr17 extends transversely with respectto Vthe cover 1 between the plates 4 and 5 and is'proyided with a guide- @d way 18 for slidableenga'gement with a ratchet bar 1 9Which is secured to the cover'l between* the plates 4 andf,A A pairof flexible straps or thongs 20 are each securedto one end of the'adjusting bar '17 by a clip 2151.(Fig. 1), 90 and extend through the channel members 8 on the cover members 1 and 2 and slots 22 provided inthe retaining' bars 13 and are lixed at their other ends to'agcross bar-or anr 14 is preferably notched ytransversely as indicated at 24 in order to receive the thongs 20V where they Vcross from cover to cover back of the stack. The central portion of theY anchor member :23 is struck down adjacent to .j

each edge thereof to provide a pair of straps 25 for slidable engagement with a rail 26 which is mounted on the cover member 2 and which is formed with a plurality of apertures 27 arranged at intervals longitudinally thereof. A spring plate or leaf spring 28 is fixed at one end to the member 23 and carries a pin 29 at its other end which is adapted to project through an aperture 30 in .the bar 23 for'engagement with the apertures 27 in the rail 26.

The spring 28 is flexed outwardly away from the plane of the cover in order to retract the pin 29 from lockingengagement with the rail 26 by means of a biurcated lever 31 the arms 32 of which straddle the spring 28 and are provided with extensions at their ends as indicated at 33 for pivotal engagement with a pair of slots 34 formed inthe member 23.

The arms 32 of the lever are connected by a portion 35 which extends transversely between thespring 28 and the member 23 and is adapted to bear against the spring 28 and to raise thesame when the lever 31 is swung outwardly.

. Y The adjusting bar 17 is locked in an adpawl-36'which is pivotally mounted as at 37 upon the bar 17 and which is yieldably urged into engagement with the ratchet bar 19 by means ofa spring 38. A plate 39 is fixed to the pawl 36 and is formed with a projection or finger 40 which projects into aslot or recess 41 formed in the guideway 18 and overlies the ratchet bar 19 for engagement by a pin 42. This pin extendsl transversely through a stud or rotatable member 43 which is rotatably mounted in the bar 17 and guide plate 18 and is provided with l an angular shoulder or collar 44, (Fig. 4) to prevent the upward displacementy thereof. The stud 43 is slotted as at45 to receive a handle 46 which is pivotally mounted on the pin 42 and which extends through a slot 47 formed in the plate 4 of the cover. The handle 46 is provided with'a shoulder 48 for engagemer'itr with the stud to arrest the upward or outward swingi ing movement of the handle 46v in a position substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cover.l A leaffspring 49 bears against the lower extremities ofthe handle 46 and tends to normally maintainthe handle in an inoperative position Hat against the cover.

` When it is desired. to release'the coversv to permitof the insertion or removal of pages to or` from the binder the handle 46 is rst swung upwardly about the pin 42 against the action of the spring 49 to theposition shown inV Fig. 4. The handle is then turned about an axis substantially normal tothe plane of the cover thus causing the-pin 42 to bear against the iinger 40 ofthe plate 39 thus rethe ratchet bar 19 against the action of the spring 38. As soon as the ratchet is released from the rack bar 19 the handle 46 may be employed to move the adjusting bar 17 and the parts carried thereby longitudinally oi the ratchet bar 19 in order to release the group of pages from the binder or to clamp it more rmly in position. It will be noted that the shoulder 48 on the handle forms with the stud 43 a solid abutment permitting considerable force to be exerted on the handle in tightening the adjusting bar and the thongs in an adjusted position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a very simple and eiicient mechanismis provided by means of which the anchor bar may be adjusted to a position which permits the cover members to be separated a predetermined distance in order to receive a certain number of pages and the adjusting bar then adjusted to maintain the covers Vvarying distances apart within the range determined by the position of the anchor bar. Thus, when the number of page-s in the group shallreach the limit of adjustment of the adjusting bar 17 the anchorbar 23 is first advanced inwardly toward the hinged edge of the cover to another position on the rail 25. The adjusting bar 17 may then be slid outwardlyalong the ratchet bar 19 toward the outer edge of the cover 1 to a position where it may be again employed to clamp the covers together as the pages still further increase in number. These adjustments may be repeated until the capacity of the binder reaches its limitvat which time both the anchor bar 23 and the adjusting bar 17 will occupy positions adjacent to the clamping bars 10 to which the cover members 1 and 2 are hinged. By means of the above-described construction a binder may be provided having a very large capacity and in which either a large group of pages or a relatively few pages may be quickly inserted in or removed from the binder and the covers readjusted to securely clamp a group of pages the thickness of which have been thus increased or decreased.

In practice the adjustment of the anchor bar 23 is never disturbed except when the ,M15

capacity of the binder is materially increased or decreased. The adjusting bar 17 is employed when it is desired to remove the entire contents of the binder as is the custom for tabulating or other bookkeeping purposes and is utilized to apply the necessary degree of compression when the contents of the Vbinder is replaced. It will thus be seen that the adjustment bar 17 and the anchor bar 23 are not counter-parts but each has its particular and independent function.

Thefinvention may be modified in construction and arrangement without departing What is claimed is l. In a temporary binder the combination of a pair of cover members, a rail mounted on one of said cover members and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, a crossbar slidably mounted on said rail andprovided with a pair of spaced slots, means con* necting said cross-bar to the other of said cover members, a leaf spring carried by said cross-bar, a pin carried by said leaf spring for engagement With said apertures, and a bifurcated lever having spaced extensions adapted to removably engage in the slots provided in said cross-bar to mount the lever for hinging movement relative the cross-bar and a transverse connecting portion adapted to engage said leaf spring and flex the same to retract said pin from engagement with said apertures, said spring retaining the offset portions of the lever in engagement in the slots of the cross-bar.

2. In a temporary binder the combination of a pair of cover members, a rail mounted on one of said cover members and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, anv anchor bar slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said rail, a ratchet Vbar mounted on the other of said cover members, an adj usting bar slidably mounted on said ratchet bar, means connecting said adjusting bar and said anchor bar, a pin carried by said anchor bar for engagement with said apertures and vadapted to maintain said anchor-barin any one of a plurality of positions on said rail to maintain said cover members varying distances apart, and a pavvl carried by said adjusting bar for engagement with said ratchet bar and adapted to maintain said cover members varying distances apart Within the ranges of adjustment of said anchor bar.`

3. In a temporary binder the combinatio of a pair of cover members, a rail mounted on one of said cover members and having a plurality of perforations therein, an anchor bar adjustably mounted on lsaid rail, a rack mounted on the other of said cover members,`

an adjusting bar mounted on said rack for movement longitudinally thereof, means connecting said anchor bar and said adjusting bar, a detentmounted on said anchor bar for engagement with the perforations therein, a pavvl mounted on said adjusting bar for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the plane thereof for engagement with said rack, and means mounted on said adjusting bar for pivotal movement about lan axis parallel to the axis of movement of said pavvl for releasing said pavvl from engagement with said rack.

4. In a temporary binder the combination of a pair Vof cover members, a rail mounted kon one of said cover members and having a plurality of perforations therein, an anchor bar adjustably mounted on said rail, a rack mounted on the other of said cover members,

bar for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of movement of said pavvl for f releasing said paWl from engagement With said rack, and 'a handle mounted on said rotatable memberv for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to that of the movement thereof and adapted to actuate said rotatable member and for moving said adjusting bar relative to said rack.

V5. In a binder thecombination With a pair of cover members of an elongated rail secured to one of the cover Vmembers andhaving a plurality of aligned apertures therein, a cross-bar transversely Vmounted upon the rail and having apertures therein, means on the bar slidably engaging about the rail to mount said bar for guided sliding movement thereon, aspring plate mounted on the cross-bar,

a pin carried by the spring plate for engagement through the aperture in the cross-bar and one of the underlying apertures 1n the rail, and means connecting'said cross-bar c to the remaining cover member.

NICHOLAS H. STUART. 

